Where In The World Is Sum1?

Sacramento, California

Locale: Sacramento, California

Week of: 9/12/22

         This week finds me in Sacramento California for a week long class.  The customer this week is a Federal Customer, and once again the class is a tailored class.  With a tailored class, I combine the Powerpoint slideshows and hands-on exercises from two or more courses into one class.  I've taught this same class to this customer four times already, it was this delivery that made me realize how different  this group is from the others.


         One subject in this class involved a small black box that can perform several functions in our radio systems.  I don't mean to 'bang my own drum here', but I consider myself somewhat of an SME on this product since I'm the only instructor who delivers this course, but am also considered an SME on it by several customers and groups.  The delivery of this class showed me I still have a lot to learn.  I knew that, but knowing is one thing, seeing it is another.  The good in all this is that I was able to adapt to their needs, and show them what they intended to do (their network is not yet completely installed/designed), and how it would operate once the work was completed.

         There was a bit of an oddity on this trip, something that has happened only twice before.  After class on Tuesday, my rental car wouldn't start, the battery was completely dead.  I do mean completely.  With this location being a Federal Customer site, someone had to remain until I left (not that I stayed late very long) to buzz the gate open so I could leave.  When he saw that my car wouldn't start, he searched around a storeroom and found a set of jumper cables.  The battery was so dead that we had to wait a couple of minutes before starting it.  Once started, all was well.  I drove to the Avis site at the Sacramento Airport to tell them what was going on.  Of course the car started right back up after turning it off.  I liked the car, and since the battery was taking a charge, I thought (hoped) it was due to me leaving something on, though for the life of me I couldn't think of what it might have been.  I had no warning lights on the dash, no alarms when I got out, nothing.  Still, I elected to keep the car.  Bad decision.  I went to dinner, then to my hotel, all was well.  At least until the next morning.  Because the next morning, the battery was once again dead.  And once again, after getting it jumped, all was well.  This time, I exchanged the car at Avis, and everything was fine the rest of the trip.


Noteworthy Restaurants:


         Pete's Restaurant & Brewhouse          https://www.petesnatomas.com/appetizers          I decided to dine here based on one dish, an appetizer.  Artichoke Hearts - Tender artichoke hearts fried in a tasty beer batter, served with basil aioli and mild garlic butter then topped with parmesan cheese.  I chose a burger for my meal, their Jalapeño Burger.  Half pound patty, topped with fresh jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, avocado, tomato, finished off with a red pepper aioli.


         Fin's House Sushi          https://www.finshouse.com/menu          I dined here my first night in Sacramento because I was in the mood for Sushi and/or Sashimi.  I wasn't too hungry though, so settled for their Jalapeno Bomb appetizer.  Jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese, imitation crab meat, and spicy tuna, topped with masago.  My meal was Sashimi, their 8-piece Chef's choice Sashimi.  If you like Sashimi/Sushi at all, you should have joined me!  We could have split the 24-piece Sashimi, and an additional appetizer.

In Closing

         Next week I am on vacation, but I doubt I will get much rest.  I am on a red-eye flight to O'Hare Friday night, and will arrive home shortly before noon.  Then either that afternoon, or Sunday morning, we'll head out to Virginia Beach for the Akita Club of America National Dog Show.  A dog show holds little interest for me, I've never been into things like that.  But my other half has, we're going for her.  Besides, I plan on visiting my oldest child who lives in Hampton Virginia, and will also stop by the Forks Of Cheat Winery/Distillery to grab a couple of bottles of wine and Moonshine, maybe some Brandy. Til next time, be good to yourselves and those you love, and WRITE!




Jim Dorrell